"Hi, I'm a Mac."

"And I'm an HTPC."

"Uhh, HTPC?"

"Yeah, you know, a Home Theater PC."

"You mean like Apple TV?"

"...No. More like a water cooled and overclocked quad core monster with the latest graphics card in a case that occupies less than 2 cubic feet and cost about as much as your friend, the 20-inch iMac."

"Well... we have Apple TV."

And for the record, my PCs have never had a single virus or worm on them. Know why? I'm not a frickin' moron, that's why! I keep Windows updated, use Firefox, and refuse all emails with executable attachments! If you can't do even that, you'll probably also end up being tricked by some "nigerian refugee with 50 million in a safe deposit box".

Basically, Apple meant "Windows" but didn't want to say "Windows" because it's in their interest to confuse the OS with the hardware and so limit the understanding of Joe-public (you know, the mouth breathers who watch Big Brother) that there are other possibilities, ie, Linux.

The ASA has played into their hands by the Wikipedian system of "reality by vote": most people think "PC" refers to Windows, therefore it does, QED.

"After having installed an anti virus program on my pc on a year old installation of windows, i was surprised to find no virus' of any kind."

Well in my experience, my anti virus software generally traps virus attacks BEFORE they are "incorporated", In the past when I have found a virus present during a scan, I have felt it neccessary to re-assess how trustworthy that A/V software is, after all, you buy a padlock to keep people out of your stuff, not to deal with the aftermath.

I realise that A/V updates are reactive, but the tone of the above quote makes it seem like finidng a virus during a scan is accepted as a common event, rather than proving a vulnerability in a machines defences. My Partners Mac runs sweetly, has not suffered any virus attacks and doesnt crash... My Linux Box, runs sweetly has not suffered any virus attacks and doesnt crash. The windoze machine? oh dear oh dear oh dear!

I'm pretty neutral here, but although I agree with the idea that dumb users get viruses, because as a whole, its true, you might want to just remember that occasionally (very occasionally) there are exploits that require ZERO user interaction to infect the pc, an example of this was the lsass vuln where the virus simply had to connect to the vulnerable windows network service to work. IIRC this got past quite a few firewalls too. This sort of thing is very very rare though.

Like Jonathan Tate I havn't had a virus on Windows.

These school boy ads aren't doing Apple any favours, they simply make people laugh, they dont suddenly make people sell 10 years worth of Windows software and move to a Mac. I for one can't see any reason from their adverts why I should sell any of my software, buy a Mac and re-buy some software to do my current tasks. Perhaps Apple should focus on this in their ads rather than the tacky "im better than you ner ner". The ads do not distinguish themselves from Windows in any way, shape or form. Apple should do a deal with PC World (the UK shop not the mag) if they are to make any headway to their 5% market share. PC World sell Macs occasionally but do not support them, this is pointless and deters joe bloggs from buying a Mac. Macs are good, and I support them but can't justify buying one.

For many years I was a loyal PC user and wouldn’t touch a Mac for love nor money (Well, how much are we talking here?).

Recently though I have been persuaded to buy a Mac laptop as it has certain advantages and facilities that I want to utilise to work purposes, not because of any fashion or poser factor the machine may have.

Its been something of a revelation! I’m finding it easier to use, less clunky and prone to crashing and general hiccups and much more secure and user friendly. And I really never thought I’d say that.

I find myself looking sadly at my PC languishing in the corner now and thinking that I really should replace the old duck (18 months old!) with a nice new Mac. Normally while I’m using my Powerbook to log onto the Apple UK website to see if they have any more of those adverts because I love them, they are cheeky, fun and generally make me laugh my azz off. Any company that can come up with an advert that people actually WANT to watch has to be doing something right.

And on the subject of Mac / PC parodies on YouTube, I highly recommend ‘I’m a Marvel, and I’m a DC.’

Obviously, liking these adverts, Macs, Comics, reading The Register daily and being a woman(!!) I’m obviously something of an anomaly that messes up every El Reg survey so I wouldn’t worry too much, there cant be that many of us out there…or can there?

No moronic comment by Webster Phreaky?

Or, Problem Between Keyboard and Chair.

It's not the computer or the operating system that is the problem, it's the person who is too stupid to know that an email promising to make them rich if they just click on a link and then enter in their bank details could in any way be fake.

All OSs crash. All OSs have bugs. All OSs can be hacked.

A computer is a powerful tool, but its a trade off.

Windows:- Easy to use, and versatile, but a security joke out of the box, and takes care and experience to make it stable.

Apple:- Easy to use, stable and secure, but not as versatile or cheap.

Linux:- Stable, secure, cheap and versatile, but not easy to use.

Pick one.